Brazil announces visa free entry for Australians

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has signed a decree granting visa free access to the South American country for Australian citizens.

The Brazilian government announced last week travellers from Australia, Japan, the United States and Canada will no longer require visas to enter the country.

A spokesperson from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) has said the decree will come into effect on 17 June this year.

From that date onward, Australian citizens will be able to travel to-and-from Brazil visa-free for the purposes of tourism, business, transit, artistic and sport activities, or in exceptional circumstances of national interest.

The new rules also permit a stay of up to 90 days – extendable by 90 days – to 180 days in a 12-month period, taking into account the date of first entry in Brazil.

An ease in visa policy has been a trend in Brazil, with last year’s introduction of the eVisa a sign of the country’s interest in more lenient passage to the country.

Forbeshas reported that the current eVisa – available to citizens of Australia, Japan, Canada and the US – will still be required and have to be paid for up to and including 16 June.

Since its implementation in 2018, the eVisa program has reportedly resulted in a 35 per cent increase in visa applications for visits to Brazil.

A similar measure was initiated for travel to Brazil for the 2016 Summer Olympics, according to Forbes, as Rio de Janeiro was selected as the host city.

Entry visa requirements were waived only for tourist visits between 1 June and 18 September of that year, with visitors permitted to stay for up to 90 days.